Sheet-feeding apparatus



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I A. BROADMEYER I SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 12, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 'i' alto: nag

Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

illNiTEl) STATES ALBERT BBOADMEYER, OF 'HARRISIBURG,

IENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE W. O.

I'IIGKOK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-FEEDING- APPARATUS.

Application flied November 12, 1923. Serial No. 674,334.

The present invention relates to sheet feeding apparatus, and particularly to that type in which a feed table is associated with a supply table, and mechanism is provided for delivering the paper from the supply table to the feed table, and from the feed table to the instrumentalities that operate on the individual sheets, as for example, a ruling machine, printing press, folding machine or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide feeding mechanism that will successfully operate on any size of sheet within the maximum capacity of the apparatus.

A further and important object is to provide novel means for transferring the sheets from the supply table to the feed table, and for controlling the transfer and feeding operations at the delivery end of the feeding table by mechanism that is dependent on the amount of material or number of sheets at said delivery end of the feed table.

The preferred embociment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 2 is a top plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 2,

Figure 1 is a cross sectional View on the line 4l-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detail view of the pawl and ratchet operating means,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of parts of the bell crank mounting connected to the actuating plunger for the pawl moving means,

Figure 7 is a perspective View of the con trol mechanism for the pawl actuating means, I vl igurc 8 is a detail view of the manually operated setting means for the feed mechanism,

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view .of the moiuiting for one of the sets of tension rolls for a pair of transferring tapes,

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through the means for transferring sheets from the supply table to the feed table,

Figure 11 is a detail View of one of the mountings of the rear guide roller for the upper belt, i

in boxes 21, and having Figure 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the belt showing the adjustable side walls of the supply table,

Figure 13 is a similar view of the feed table.

In the embodiment disclosed, a feed table 10 is employed, supported on suitable standards 11, and in turn supporting thereabove a supply table 12. The supply table 12 is inclined reversely to the feed table 10, and has its lower end mounted in suitable frame brackets 13. Its upper end 'is carried by supporting rods 1 1 suitably based on frame brackets 15 at the lower or delivery end of the feed table 10.

The upper or supply table 12 is provided with upstanding side walls 16-16" and an endless belt of a width substantially equal to the maximum distance between said side walls, has an upper stretch 17 operating over the table between said side walls. This belt passes around a directing roller 18 interposed between the lower end of the supply table 12 and the upper end of the feed table 10. Its rear end passes around a guide roller 19 located at the upper end of the supply table 12. The guide roller 19, as shown more particularly journaled in brackets 20 slidably mounted slots 22, through which holding bolts 23 pass." Adjusting screws 24, threaded through the rear. ends of the boxes 21, bear against the rear ends of the brackets '20. The side wall 16 is adjustable acrosss the adjacent margin of the belt 17, its upper end being supported by a hanger 16 slidably mounted on a cross rod 16 that extends over the table and the belt. The cross rod is supported in brackets 16 mounted on the table on opposite sides of the belt. The lower end of the side wall 16 has an outstanding slotted arm 16 through which is passed a set screw 16.

' The central portion of the side wall has an outstanding stem 16 slidably mounted in a collar at 16 that is fixed to the table. A set screw 16 serves to hold the stem against movement in the collar. This wall constitutes an abutment wall, against which the pile of paper is placed. The opposite or rear side wall 16 has itsupper end carried by a hanger 16 that is slidably mounted on the cross rod 16. Its lower end is slid;

in Figure 11, is

ably mounted on a cross rod 16 fixed to the lower end. of the side wall 16 A roller 16', journaled on the central portion of the side wall 16, is adapted to ride upon the belt and thus prevent frictional contact between the side wall and the belt when the side wall is adjusted, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 12. lVith this arrangement, it will be evident that the active width of the table may be varied to suit any width of paper from a very small size to the maximum that can be placed on the belt.

The lower or feed table has side walls and 25, and over said table operates the upper stretch of an endless belt 26, having a width substantially equal to the maximum space between said side walls 25. The belt 26 at the upper end of the table 10 passes around a guide roller 27, and at the lower or delivery end of said table passes around a roller 28; A tension roller 29 rests upon the lower stretch of the belt and is ournaled in swinging arms 30 pivoted, as shown at 31, to the'frame brackets 15.

The side wall 25 has a limited adjustment over the belt 26 similar to the side wall 16 except that as said side wall 25 does not constitute an abutment against which a pile of paper is placed, the intermediate support is eliminated. In like manner the side wall 25 is adjustable toward and from the side wall 25, corresponding to the adjustment of the side wall 16. The roller, in this instance, is preferably, though not necessarily, located at the upper end of the side wall 25, as shown at 25 A driving shaft in the form of a roller 3., is journaled in the frame brackets 13 and is geared, as shown at 33, to the roller 27. Gearing 34 also transmits motion from the roller or drive shaft 32 to the drum 18. This driving shaft or roller 32 projects from one side of the frame, and has fixed thereto, a ratchet wheel 35. A bell crank 36 is journaled on the projecting portion of the shaft 32, and as shown in detail in Figure 5, one arm of the bell c 'ank has pivoted thereon a pawl 37 that operates on the teeth of the ratchet wheel 35. The pawl is springpressed, as shown at 38, so as to maintain its engagement with the teeth. arm of the bell crank 36 has pivoted thereto a link 39 extending longitudinally of the feed table 10 to the delivery end of the same. Said end of the link adjustably and pivotally connected to the depending arm 40 of a bell crank pivoted, as shown at 41, on the frame bracket 15. The other arm 42 of thebell crank is pivotally engaged with a stud 43, carried by a collar 44 adjustably mounted on a reciprocatory actuating plunger 45. The plunger 45 is vertically disposed, its lower end sliding in a guide 46, its upper end being slotted, as shown at 47 and sliding on a transverse shaft 48 e2;-

The other 4 tending across the delivery end of the machine. A spring 49, operating on the lower end of the plunger rod 45, serves to normally move it downwardly. The upper end of said plunger rod'carries a roller 50 operating on a cam 51 carried by the shaft 48.

It will thus be evident that when the shaft 4 and cam 51 are rotated, the plunger 45 will be reciprocated, thereby swinging the bell crank 4042, causing the longitudinal reciprocation ot the link 39 and the back and forth lilOVQll'lCllt of the pawl carrier bell crank 36. This will obviously cause the step-by-step rotation of the roller shaft- 32 and the consequent movement of the belts 1.7 and 26 and the transfer roller 18. By shifting the ivotal mounting of the link in the depending arm 40 of the bell crank, the eliective throw of the link and therefore oi the pawl can be varied in order that the feed will be changed to the length of the sheets passing through the apparatus.

The ope 'ation of these parts is controlled by the thickness or number of sheets at the delivery end of the feed table 10. The plunger 45 is provided with a laterally extending lug and a swinging latch 53 pivoted to thei rame bracket 15, is adapted to move to and from a position beneath and in the path of the lug 52. Swingingmovement of this latch is limited by oppositely arranged adjustable stops 54. A rock shaft 55, journaled in the said frame bracket 15, is provided with a depending arm 56, in the lower end of which is slidably engaged a link member 57, and said link member has a slot 58 in which is engaged a pin 59 carried by the latch A spring 60 on the link member 57 serves to normally secure its movement with the arm 56, and an adjusting nut 61, threaded on the outer end of the link member. The shaft 48, which carries the plunger actuating cam 51, also carries a cam 62, and operating on said cam, is a roller 63 journaled on the free end of an arm 64 that is carried by the rock shaft The cams 51 and 62 are so related that normally the latch 53 will be withdrawn from beneath the lug 52 when the actuating plunger 45 is permitted to drop by the cam 51, and said latch is alternately moved into and out of the path o't said lug on each reciprocation ot the nclusting plunger 45. tlecured to the inner end of the reel; shalt 55 is another crank arm 65, having at its free end a ball or head 66 which is adapted torest upon the sheets moved tn thrdelivery end of the table. This crank arm 65 is mounted on the rock shaft 55 and is capable of adjustment longitudinally along the same. When the body of sheets is at or below a predetermined thickness, the arm 65 and head 66 will be al lowed to swing downwardly, thereby permitting the outvi'ard movement of the latch from. beneath the holding lug 52, but it the thickness of the sheets increases, said arm and head act as a detector, and will prevent the full rocking movement of the shaft 55, thereby preventing the outward movement of the latch 53 to its inactive position. As a consequence the lug 52 will rest upon the latch and the actuation of the feeding means will be stopped. As soon, however, as the thickness of the pile decreases sutliciently the arm (35 will again be permited to drop, the latch will resume its normal swinging movements to an inoperative position and the operation will again begin. By adjusting the nut 61 threaded on the link member 57, the position of the arm 56 will be varied, thereby 'aising or lowering the detector ball so that the amount of paper that-is permitted to come beneath it for operation on by the suction roller can be varied. I

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for feeding the sheets from the delivery end of the apparatus, such as combing or delivering rollers, rubber push lingers, or suction devices, well-known to those skilled in this art. In the present embodiment there is disclosed a suction roller 68 carried by the shaft 48. This roller may be the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,49%,303, dated May 13, 1924:.

ln order to insure the proper passage of the paper from the upper belt 17 to the lower belt 26 and around the transfer roller 18, the following mechanism is preferably OD'IPlOyGd. An upper guide roller 69 is located above the transfer roller 18 and a lowor guide roller 70 is located below said transfer roller and adjacent to the roller 27.

liround these rollers pass sets of endless tapes 71 that operate against the portion of the upper belt 17 passing around the roller 18. These tapes are driven by gearing 72, extending from the gear of the roller 18 to the upper guide roller 69. Extending along side the roller 18 is a supporting rod 7 3, on which are journaled a plurality of carry g arms 7 1. Each of-these arms has journa d on the opposite sides of its free end tension rollers 75, around which a set of the tapes 71 pass. The arms 7 4: are adjustable along the supporting rods 73 and can be held at any desired position by collars 76 secured by set screws 77, the collars being located in'bifurcations in the pivoted ends of the arms 74. Guide pulleys 78 are preferably mounted on intermediate portions of the arms 74 and around them the said tapes pass. Securedto the supporting rods 73 are other arms connected by a rod 80, on'which are slidably mounted collars 81. Connecting these collars with the 'rier arm 7 1are springs 82. .llie structure is such that the springs 82 serve to hold the tapes 71 taut. It will be evident however, that as the sheets pass around the transferring roller 18, the portions of the tapes coacting therewith will be separated from the roller, and this separation is permitted by the'swinging of the arms, 74: against the tension of the springs 82. Directing fingers 83 are pivotally mounted, as shown at 84, on a cross rod85 at the delivery end of the'up'per table '12, and have their free ends extending over the transfer roller 18 and to points adjacent to the tapes 71. Other directing fingers in the form of curved springs 86 have hooked ends 87 embracing the supporting rod 73, and have their lower ends resting on the guide roller 70, these fingers extending between the tapes 71. i

With this construction, it will be evident that a pile of sheets placed upon the upper stretch of the belt 17 on the supply table 12, will be carried downwardly, and passed around the transfer roller 18 on to the belt of the feeding table 26, the transfer mechanism insuring the proper frictional or carrying engagement with the belt around the roller 18. The sheets in turn will be carried longitudinally along the feedtable 10 on the belt 26 and the sheets will be successively delivered from the machine by the suction roller 68.

During thereciprocation of the actuating plunger the cam 62 is causing the swinging of the arm 64, thereby alternately raising and lowering the arm 65, having the ball or head 66 thereon, so that the paper sheets can pass thereunder. As long as the sheets at the delivery end do not exceed a predetermined number, the ball will drop sufficiently to permit the shaft to turn a-nd Withdraw the latch 53 from beneath the lug 52, but whenever the supply exceeds that desired, this detector will not be permitted to drop because of the paper beneath it, and consequently the latch cannot swing outwardly, but will maintain its position beneath the lug and hold the actuating plunger against operation. The use of belts on the table has been found peculiarly advantageous in that sheets of any width less than the distance between the side Walls may be fed without difliculty and the only adjustment that may be necessary is of the side walls and transfer tapes 71. These being located in sets, said sets can be relatively adjusted and will cooperate with the transfer roller and the directing fingers to insure the proper delivery of the sheets from the upper to the lower table.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description,'and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without de parting fromthe spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

ltlt) lVhat I claim, is

1. In a sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a plurality of flexible bands cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets about the same, and means, independent of the roller, on which the bands are mounted, said means permitting the relative adjustment of the bands to different positions longitudinally of the roller.

2. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a sheet deliveringbelt that operates around the roll er and has a width substantially equal to the table, a plurality of flexible bands cooperating with the roller and the portion of the belt passing around the same to direct the sheets on said belt about the roller, and means, independent of the-roller, on which the bands are mounted, said means permitting the relative adjustment of the bands to di'iferent positions longitudinally of the roller.

3. I11 sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, a rolle around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a sheet delivering belt having a portion beneath the rollerfor receiving the sheets therefrom, said belt having a width substantially equal to the active portion of the feed table, a r0ller below the first roller and about which the belt passes, a plurality of flexible bands cooperating With the first roller to direct sheets about the same, and means for mounting said bands independently of both rollers and positioning the lower portions of said bands adjacent to the belt.

4*. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a sheet delivering belt having a portion beneath the roller for receiving the sheets therefrom, said belt having a width substantially equal to the active portion of the feed table, a roller below the first roller and about which the belt passes, a plurality of flexible bands cooperating with the first roller to direct sheets about the same, and means for mounting said hands independently of both rollers and positioning the lower portions of said bands adjacent to the belt, said means permitting the relative adjustment of the bands to different positions longitudinally of the roller.

5. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table for receiving the sheets from the supply table, a roller around: which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, an

endless hand coacting with the roller for directing the sheets thereabout, guides for the band above and below the roller, a sup porting rod, a tension pulley for the band having a swinging support on the rod, and t a spring operating on the support.

6. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table for receiving the sheets from the supply table, a roll r around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, an endless band coacting with the roller for directing the sheets thereabout, guide rollers for the band above and below the roller, a supporting rod, a tension pulley for the band having a swinging support mounted on and adjustable along the rod, and a spring operating on the support.

7. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, endless bands cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets thereabout, guide rollers around which the bands pass, pulleys about which the bands pass, and mountings for said pulleys adjustable longitudinally of the first roller for positioning the bands at different positions with respect thereto.

8. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table for receiving the sheets from the supply table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a plurality of endless bands cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets therearound, carrier rollers for the bands, and supports on which the rollers are mounted, said supports and rollers being relatively adjustable toward and from each other.

9. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table for receiving the sheets from the supply table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a plurality of endless bands cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets therearound, upper and lower guides for the bands above and below the roller that permit the rela tive adjustment of the bands towards and from each other, yielding tension supports relatively adjustable toward and from each other, and tension pulleys carried by the supports and bearing against the bands.

10. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table for receiving the sheets from the supply table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, a plurality of endless bands cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets therearound, upper and lower guide rollers for the bands above and below the roller that permit the relative adjustment of the bands towards and from each other, a bar disposed longitudinally of the rollers, arms pivotally mounted on the bar and relatively adjustable therealong, tension pulleys on the arms bearing against the bands, and springs operating on the arms.

11. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, a roller around which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, endless bands cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets thereabout, upper and lower guide rollers around which the bands pass, pulleys about which the bands pass, swinging arms supporting the pulleys, a rod located longitudinally of the first roller and on which the arms are slidably mounted,

and springs connected to the arms I for yieldingly holding them with the bands taut.

12. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table that receives the sheets therefrom, a roller about which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, endless bands located in sets and cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets therearound, and supporting means for said bands including swinging tension arms, and sets of pulleys mounted on each arm, and a set of bands passing across each set of pulleys.

13. In sheet feeding apparatus, the com bination with a supply table, of a feed table that receives the sheets therefrom, a roller about which the sheets pass from the supply table to the feed table, endless bands located in sets and cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets therearound, upper and lower guide rollers above and below the first roller and about which the bands pass, a supporting bar, carrier means pivotally mounted on the bar and adjustable along the same, springs operating on the arms, and sets of pulleys carried by each arm and having a set of the bands passing thereacross. I

14. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table that receives the sheets therefrom, sheet carrying belts operating over the tables and being of substantially the widths thereof, a directing roller for the sheets interposed between the tables, a plurality of endless tapes cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets around the latter, and means for adjusting the tapes tranversely of the belt to different positions with respect thereto.

15. 111 sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table that receives the sheets therefrom, sheet carrying belts operating over the tables and being of substantially the widths thereof, a

directing roller for the sheets interposed 138-, tween the tables, a plurality of endless tapes cooperating with the roller to direct the sheets around the latter, and a plurality of inwardly declined fingers extending between the tapes in rear of the roller,

- y 16. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets overthe tables and for-delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, and means determined by the thickness of the set of sheets at the delivering end of the feed table and located at said delivery end for automatically governing the operation of the transferring mechanism.

17. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets over the tables and for delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, a vertically movable thickness detector at the delivery end of the feed table, and control mechanism for the transferring mechanism at the delivery end of the feed table and operated by the detector 18. In sheet feeding apparatus, the c01nbination with a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets over the tables and for delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, including an operating device at the delivery end, a latch at said delivery end forholding the operating device against an operating movement, and a thickness detector at the delivery end of the feed table and controlling the latch.

19. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with-a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets overthe tables and for delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, including a reciprocatory operating device at thedelivery end of the feed table, a latch, at the delivery end of the. feed table for holding the operating device against an operating movement, and a thickness detector at the delivery end of the feed table and controlling the latch.

20. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets over the tables and for delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, including an operating device at said end, a pivota-lly mounted latch also at said end that swings into and out of the path of a portion of the operating device, and means governed by the sheets for controlling the movement of the latch.

21. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination wit-h a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets over the tables and for delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, including an operating device at said end, a pivotally mounted latch at said end that swings into and out of the path f a portion of the operating device, a rock shaft connected to the latch, and a device for operating the rock shaft to swing the latch.

22. In sheet feeding apparat-us, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table, mechanism for moving sheets over the tables and for delivering sheets from one end of the feed table, including an operating device at said end, a pivotally mounted latch at said end that swings into and out of the path of a portion of the operating device, a rock shaft connected to the latch, and a thickness detector arm that rests upon the sheets at the delivery end of the feed table to control the position of the latch.

23. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table and means for moving sheets thereover and delivering them from one end of the feed table, operating mechanism for the sheet moving means, including an actuating device at said end, a latch movable and out of position to hold the device, means for alternately effecting the movements of the latch and actuating device to permit the operation of the latter, and means controlled by the sheets for holding the latch against such movement to hold the actuating device.

24. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table and means for moving sheets thereover and delivering them from one end of the feed table, operating mechanism for the sheet moving means, including an actuating device, a latch movable into and out of position to hold the device, cams for alternately effecting the movements of the latch and actuating device to permit the operation of the latter, and a thickness detector associated with the latch and operating thereon to hold the latch against such movement and thereby to hold the actuating device.

25. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table, of a feed table and means for moving sheets thereover and delivering them from one end of the feed table, operating mechanism for the sheet moving means, including an actuating device, a latch movable into and out of position to hold the device, sheet feeding means including a shaft, cams on said shaft, one of which operates on the actuating device, a rock shaft connectedto the latch, said rock shaft being operated by the other cam, and a thickness detector controlling the movement of the rock shaft.

26. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a supply table and a feed table, of belts operating thereover, means for transferring the sheets from the belt of the supply table at one end of the same to the belt of the feed table at the same end, operating means for said transfer mechanism and belts including a ratchet wheel at said adjacent ends of the tables, a pawl operating on the ratchet wheel, a reciprocatory actuating device having a link connection with the pawl and located at the delivery end of the feed table, sheet feeding means at said delivery end, a swinging latch that moves onto and out of the path of the reciprocatory actuating device, devices for respectively moving the actuating device and the latch to prevent the interference of the latter with the former, and a thickness detectorthat is movably supported on the sheets and operated to hold the latch in position to stop the actuating device when an abnormal number of sheets is at the de livery end of the feed table.

27. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a sheet holding and feeding table, of means for delivering sheets from the table, and means for governing the supply of the sheets at the delivery means, comprising an actuating member, a latch controlling the movement thereof, means for alternately moving the latch into and out of its controlling position, and means governed y the sheets for holding the latch in its controlling position and thereby preventing the operation of the actuating member.

28. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with aw sheet holding and feeding table, of means for delivering sheets from the table, and means for governing the supply of the sheets at the delivery means, comprising an actuating member having a back and forth movement, a latch movable into and out of the path of a portion of the actuating member to hold the latter against an operative movement, means for automatically moving the latch to and from i such position to normally permit the movement of the actuating device, and means governed by the sheets for holding the latch in its controlling position and thereby preventing the operation of the actuating member.

29. In sheet feeding apparatus, the com bination with a sheet holding and feeding table, of means for delivering sheets from the table, and means for governing the supply of the sheets at the delivery means, comprising an actuating member, a latch having a swinging movement into and out of the path of a portion of the actuating member to hold the latter against an operative movement, means for automatically swinging the latch to and from such position to normally permit the movement of the actuating device, and a detector that operates on the sheets adjacent to the delivering means and controlling the latch when the pile is too high to hold it in the path of the actuating device.

30. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a table and means for carrying sheets away from the same, of an endless belt operating over the table, and relatively adjustable side walls cooperating with the belt, one of said walls being adjustable toward and from the other over the belt.

31. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a table and means for carrying sheets away from the same, of a single endless belt operating over the table and of substantially the width thereof, relatively Iii) llU

adjustable side walls cooperating with the belt, one of said Walls being adjustable toward and from the other over the upper face of the belt, and means for supporting the latter wall over the belt.

32. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a table and means for carrying sheets away from the same, of an endless belt operating over the table, relatively adjustable side walls cooperating with the belt, one of said walls being adjustable toward and from the other over the belt, and means for supporting the latter wall over the belt, including a roller journaled on said wall ridin the belt.

33. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a table and means for carrying sheets away from the same, of an endless belt operating over the table, relatively adjustable side walls cooperating with the belt, one of said walls being adjustable toward and from the other over the belt, and means for firmly fixing the other side wall so that it will constitute an abutment against which a pile of sheets may be evened.

34. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a table and means for carrying sheets away from the same, of an endless belt operating over the table, a front side wall against which a pile of sheets may be abutted, cross rods extending from said wall and over the belt, and a rear side Wall adjustably carried by the cross rods and movable to different positions over the belt.

35. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with an upper supply table, of a lower feed table, belts substantialy the widths of said tables having stretches operating thereover, guiding side walls for the tables, means for supporting said side walls in different positions over the belts, means for directing sheets from the upper table to the lower table, and means for delivering the sheets from the lower table.

36. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with an upper supply table, of a lower feed table, belts substantially the widths of said tables having stretches operating thereover, a set of guiding side walls for each table, cross rods over each belt on x which one of the side walls is adjustable toward and from the other side wall over the belt, means for directing sheets from the upper table to the lower table, and means for delivering the sheets from the lower table.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ALBERT BROADMEYER. 

